Canadian Government May Name Jewish Senator

January 16, 1930

Montreal (Jan. 15)

Two Jewish delegations are leaving here this week for Ottawa to urge the federal government to appoint a Jew to the Canadian Senate. One delegation is pushing the claims of A. J. Freiman, millionaire department store owner of Ottawa and president of the Canadian Zionist Organization. The other delegation is backing the Hon. Samuel W. Jacobs, member of the Dominion Parliament for Montreal and the first Jew ever elected to the Dominion Parliament. It is understood that the government is favorable to naming a Jewish Senator, but is undecided as to the choice. No Jew has ever sat in the Senate.

By the provisions of the British North America Act, the 96 members of the Senate are appointed for life by the Governor-General on recommendation of the Cabbinet Council.